California Baptist University
Western Athletic Conference
CBU Starts WAC OTF Championships with Impressive Distance Performances
5/15/2025 9:27:00 PM | Cross Country & Track
ARLINGTON, TX--- The California Baptist University track team had a highly successful opening day of the Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Track Championships as they competed in the 1500M prelims and the 10K Finals at Maverick Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The Texas heat was in full force, but that did not deter the Lancers from earning seven prelim advancers and three All-WAC finishers on the night.
CBU opened up the competition in the Men's 1500M prelims with eight runners competing on the men's side. Valentin Soca, Daniel Abdala, Lorenzo Riba, Ernesto Ruiz, and Manuel Rojas took to the track in the first of two heats. Soca was his usual impressive self, clocking in at 3:49.38 and utilizing an impressive kick to take the top spot in the heat. Soca and Daniel Abdala would earn automatic qualifiers in the heat as the top four earned automatic bids to the finals on Saturday. Riba's time of 3:53.46 would snag the final time qualifier and would have the 12th fastest time overall. In the second heat, Pedro Marin would have a dominating run and would take the top spot in the event at 3:48.63 and would earn an automatic qualifier to Saturday. Finn Anspach would earn a qualifying time in fifth in the heat at 3:49.32 and joins Soca, Marin, Abdala, and Riba in the finals.
The women's 1500M finals also yielded success for the Lancers, with a pair of Lancers qualifying for the finals. The first to qualify would be Laura Acuna, who finished second in her heat and fourth overall at 4:37.16. True freshman Helena Mees also stamped her ticket to Saturday's final with an impressive performance in the first heat. She would finish ninth overall to snag one of the at-large times at 4:35.16 and finish 5th in her heat.
The final events of the first day were the 10K's with one heat apiece in the women's and men's divisions. The men would hit the track first as CBU would race three in the 14-runner field. Victor Rosas put together a solid run for the Lancers and would be their top finisher in fourth at 31:11.73 and earned a Second Team All-WAC honor. Adam Trefecanty came in a few seconds later at 31:30.62 to finish fifth and likewise earn Second Team honors. Talon Rodriguez would come in 12th to close for the men at 32:35.19. On the women's side, Karolina Bliujute was the only competitor, and she more than held her own in the 15-runner field. Bliujute hung with the main pack for most of the race and would find another gear in the final stretch to wrap up a podium spot in third with a time of 36:14.96. The placement earned her First Team All-WAC honors and was a great way to end her solid freshman season.
NEXT: The Lancers will compete in the men's and women's 800M prelims on Day Two of the WAC Championships.
Players Mentioned
